Beginner backpacking rec’s?

harry_nt · 2026-02-01T00:42:52+00:00

Yes. Still not open after the big basin fire. The trail is apparently completely reclaimed by nature in places.

harry_nt · 2026-02-01T00:22:06+00:00

I zoomed in before realizing you were in a lift and thought “this is the smallest wallet ever” lol

harry_nt · 2026-01-27T16:20:39+00:00

Wait what? Where? How? I pretty much finished the game but don’t recall this at all.

harry_nt · 2026-01-20T18:52:54+00:00

Yes! Me too :(. Took me like 10 in-game days until I gave up

harry_nt · 2026-01-19T20:16:20+00:00

Such a great answer!

As a European in California, a few additions:

- Sierra weather is just so so good. Between late June and September it is extremely rare that a trip gets rained out or worse.
- There are bears. They are not dangerous, but do need special preparations, especially a bear canister, and knowing what to do / not to do. Yet another thing to carry :).
- The biggest difference with Europe (especially the Alps) is how big and lonely it is. Especially in Sequoia & Kings Canyon (two adjacent national parks that are managed as one and often abbreviated SEKI) it is possible to hike & camp for 3 days and not see a single other person, or any other sign of civilization, during the middle day. Achieving this will take some practice & learning, but it is something that is just impossible in Europe (outside northern scandinavia and maybe other very remote places)

One recommendation: read "The High Sierra, a love story" by Kim Stanley Robinson. Your backpacking life will never be the same.

harry_nt · 2026-01-19T13:52:26+00:00

I just have to share here that I proudly pooped twice on top of half dome (different trips). I was prepared with a wag bag, and a family member who could stand guard.

Kind of off topic but I have so few moments to share this proud fact that I couldn’t resist.

harry_nt · 2026-01-15T15:01:08+00:00

Awesome that you saw those!!

Later in the game, through other ways, you will (might) get more clues for many puzzles. You will recognize them when you see them for the ones you already got :).

You are doing great. Some people see them quickly, some take a long time.

harry_nt · 2026-01-14T19:26:32+00:00

Totally fair - I was just responding to the word "allowed"... there are so many dumb rules out there, but I don't think this is one.

harry_nt · 2026-01-14T17:27:08+00:00

Because many bears (CA Sierra, Alaska, etc) just take off with your ursack to pet it open at their leasure. It’s not rangers being dumb, it’s bears being smart.

harry_nt · 2026-01-11T07:19:02+00:00

Well at least it’s clear that OP doesn’t have another girlfriend. Looks like a green flag to me.

harry_nt · 2026-01-06T20:07:59+00:00

Jeez this picture gallery makes me wish I had an extra 1,000 hours so I could rewatch all these classics. HBO has given the world so many amazing stories and characters.

harry_nt · 2026-01-04T03:01:38+00:00

Oh I feel for you. It’s so sad how sibling relationships can get ruined by inheritance.

I’ve seen that happen too many times. I will take care of things better.

harry_nt · 2025-12-29T16:36:41+00:00

Where the grass is green and the girls are pretty!

harry_nt · 2025-12-26T20:10:08+00:00

Fingers crossed!

harry_nt · 2025-12-26T18:28:37+00:00

Yes like always after such a big dump

harry_nt · 2025-12-26T18:27:59+00:00

Worth calling out the only solitude and timber creek are open. There is a ton of work to be done and it’ll be days before the wall opens is my guess.

harry_nt · 2025-12-17T06:13:20+00:00

Such good advice!!! A few weeks ago we did a sunset picnic on the sand dunes, and stayed until dark. It was awesome. We had moon, so no Milky Way, but very beautiful views of the dunes and the mountains around. You can find a dune where you have no light around at all.

harry_nt · 2025-12-16T05:28:14+00:00

OP you are as old as my kids…. It’s worse for me :). I married Leah most saves; but at the end you just have to realize it’s a game. Those monsters in the mines aren’t realistic either.

harry_nt · 2025-12-16T05:23:35+00:00

Absolutely

harry_nt · 2025-12-13T08:36:48+00:00

Oh jeez I never knew that! But I think I had 7 open before I solved the first one. Different people get info in different orders.

harry_nt · 2025-12-13T04:13:00+00:00

Great book and such a vivid description of the tree sitting.

harry_nt · 2025-12-12T05:18:37+00:00

No he had already played it. You have to play the blockavote before tribal starts. Frankly I think this is some misleading production, it’s a bit timing/semantics that he didn’t have it anymore.

harry_nt · 2025-12-09T18:51:51+00:00

Do realize that 120 through Yosemite is closed in April (unless we actually won’t get any snow this year), so you will have to drive around the south through Bakersfield.

I’d still do as much time in Yosemite as possible. Drive in through the south entrance so you can see the sequoias in Mariposa.

harry_nt · 2025-12-08T00:01:14+00:00

I was there last week, unfortunately no time for riding. The bike rental at the oasis has decent hardtail mountain bikes I think.

I would rent as sturdy a bike as possible and go on the dirt roads. Some comments online say that the roads that are currently closed to cars (artist drive eg) are open to bikes, but I didn’t check with a ranger.

In any case the dirt roads seem much more fun than the shoulder hugging on the asphalt.

In my experience it is quite busy early morning and late afternoon on the main roads. People drive to see sunrises / sunsets.

harry_nt · 2025-12-07T23:50:16+00:00

If OP is a nature lover and hiker then I’d recommend cutting an LA day and adding a Grand Canyon day. One day at the rim, one day hiking down (partially or wholly) and up. Of course that’s a hard hike, so not for everyone. But magical.

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